Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Japan will fast-track spending to buy long-range missiles for the first time amid escalating tensions with North Korea.

Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said purchasing the missiles would help counter the country's "increasingly severe" national security situation.

"We will implement stand-off missiles capable of defending ourselves adequately, when we are outside the range of the opponent, in order to ensure the safety of the Self Defense Force and to defend our nation effectively," Onodera said.